American nun group questions whether LCWR oversight is truly over

When the Leadership Conference of Women Religious broke its silence Friday regarding the end of the controversial Vatican oversight of the group, many Catholic sisters in the U.S. were, well, thrilled. They appreciated the LCWR leadership team's written statement for its frank acknowledgement of how painful the doctrinal assessment had been, and they were genuinely proud of the team for their grace and humility.

But some sisters also still had lingering questions.

For the National Coalition of American Nuns, a progressive 300-member grassroots organization focused on church and social justice issues, the major question is this: At what price has this resolution been achieved?

"We sympathize with the sisters who were tired after six years of scrutiny since the assessment was announced," the coalition said in a statement sent to Global Sisters Report. But, they wanted to know, what does it mean that the process for choosing LCWR's Outstanding Leadership Award will be revised? What does it mean that LCWR publications will be reviewed by "competent theologians" as the group's joint statement with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in April maintained?